'''Bëor the Old''' ({{FA|262}} – {{FA|355|n}}, aged 93 years<ref>{{WJ|14}}, ''(i) The House of Bëor'', p. 231</ref>) was the leader of the first [[Men]] to cross the [[Blue Mountains]] into [[Beleriand]] in the First Age. He was originally named '''Balan'''.<ref name="West">{{S|West}}</ref>

−

'''Bëor the Old''' ({{FA|262}} – [[First Age 355|355]], aged 93 years) was the leader of the first [[Men]] to cross the [[Blue Mountains]] into [[Beleriand]] in the First Age. He was originally named '''Balan'''.

+

==History==

==History==

−

In {{FA|310}}, [[Finrod Felagund]] came upon Balan and his people and enchanted them with his music. Finrod quickly befriended the Men and advised them to settle in [[Estolad]] in the realm of [[Amrod]]. In 402, [[Orcs]] attempted to break through the [[Pass of Aglon]], but the people of Bëor helped [[Maedhros]] and [[Maglor]] throw back the invaders. This was the first time Men fought on behalf of the [[Eldar]].

+

The man once born as Balan (perhaps in [[Eriador]]) was one of the people who sought to reach the [[Valar|Gods]] in the [[West]]. With his sons [[Belen]] and [[Baran]] and his people, they met [[Dwarves]] and [[Avari]] before eventually crossing the [[Blue Mountains]] in {{FA|310}}.

−

Sometime between 415 and 420, Balan left with Finrod for his kingdom of [[Nargothrond]], where he served as his vassal until his death. Bëor's eldest son, [[Baran]], ruled the [[House of Bëor|people of Bëor]] in his stead. The friendship of Bëor and Baran with the Eldar led to the creation of the [[House of Bëor|First House]] of the [[Edain]], which produced some of the greatest heroes of the First Age.

+

One night as they slept in [[Ossiriand]], [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]] came upon Balan and his people and enchanted them with his music as they woke up. Finrod quickly befriended the Men and advised them to settle in [[Estolad]] in the realm of [[Amrod]].<ref name="West"/> In {{FA|402}}, [[Orcs]] attempted to break through the [[Pass of Aglon]], but the people of Bëor helped [[Maedhros]] and [[Maglor]] throw back the invaders. This was the first time Men fought on behalf of the [[Eldar]].

−

Balan was called ''Bëor'' by the [[Nargothrond|Nargothrondrim]], which meant "vassal" in [[Taliska]], the language of the the people of Bëor. When Bëor finally died at the age of 93, a very old age for men at that time, he was given the epithet ''the Old'''.

+

Sometime between {{FA|415}} and {{FA|420}}, Balan left with Finrod for his kingdom of [[Nargothrond]], where he served as his vassal until his death. Bëor's eldest son, [[Baran]], ruled the [[House of Bëor|people of Bëor]] in his stead. The friendship of Bëor and Baran with the Eldar led to the creation of the [[House of Bëor|First House]] of the [[Edain]], which produced some of the greatest heroes of the First Age.

+

+

Balan was called ''Bëor'' by the [[Nargothrond]]rim, which meant "vassal" in [[Taliska]], the language of the the people of Bëor. When Bëor finally died at the age of 93 willingly, a very old age for men at that time, he was given the epithet ''the Old'''.<ref name="West"/>

In the introduction to ''[[The Grey Annals]]'', [[Christopher Tolkien]] stated that they were written in the 1930s.<ref>{{WJ|P1}}, p, 3</ref> This work was laid aside while J.R.R. Tolkien wrote ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', after which he returned to his work on the elder days. In Tolkien's later writings the coming of the [[Edain]] over the Blue Mountains was relocated nearly a century earlier, which occasioned a large-scale overhaul of the chronology and genealogies.<ref>{{WJ|14}}, ''The new genealogies of the Edain'', p. 229</ref>

−

| |

+

−

[[Boron]] [[Baranor (son of Baran)|Baranor]]

+

−

{{sequence

+

In the older ''Grey Annals'', Bëor was born in {{FA|370}}<ref>{{GA|121}}</ref>, met Felagund in {{FA|400|n}}<ref>{{GA|124}}</ref>, and died in {{FA|450|n}}.<ref>{{GA|144}}</ref> In the new version Bëor was born in {{FA|262}}, encountered Felagund in {{FA|310|n}}, and died at age 93 in {{FA|355|n}}.<ref>{{WJ|14}}, ''(i) The House of Bëor'', p. 229</ref>

One night as they slept in Ossiriand, Finrod Felagund came upon Balan and his people and enchanted them with his music as they woke up. Finrod quickly befriended the Men and advised them to settle in Estolad in the realm of Amrod.[2] In F.A.402, Orcs attempted to break through the Pass of Aglon, but the people of Bëor helped Maedhros and Maglor throw back the invaders. This was the first time Men fought on behalf of the Eldar.

Sometime between F.A.415 and F.A.420, Balan left with Finrod for his kingdom of Nargothrond, where he served as his vassal until his death. Bëor's eldest son, Baran, ruled the people of Bëor in his stead. The friendship of Bëor and Baran with the Eldar led to the creation of the First House of the Edain, which produced some of the greatest heroes of the First Age.

Balan was called Bëor by the Nargothrondrim, which meant "vassal" in Taliska, the language of the the people of Bëor. When Bëor finally died at the age of 93 willingly, a very old age for men at that time, he was given the epithet the Old'.[2]

Genealogy

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In the introduction to The Grey Annals, Christopher Tolkien stated that they were written in the 1930s.[3] This work was laid aside while J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings, after which he returned to his work on the elder days. In Tolkien's later writings the coming of the Edain over the Blue Mountains was relocated nearly a century earlier, which occasioned a large-scale overhaul of the chronology and genealogies.[4]

In the older Grey Annals, Bëor was born in F.A.370[5], met Felagund in 400[6], and died in 450.[7] In the new version Bëor was born in F.A.262, encountered Felagund in 310, and died at age 93 in 355.[8]